IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — A school bus driver in Iredell County has been suspended after she was cited for careless and reckless driving during her route on Wednesday morning, school officials said.
According to officials with Iredell-Statesville Schools, the bus driver, identified as Cheri Mayberry, was ticketed by the North Carolina Highway Patrol for careless and reckless driving as well as driving left of center.
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The incident happened around 7:30 a.m. after witnesses called 911 to report the school bus was driving all over the road on North Carolina Highway 115.
A trooper spotted the bus and stopped it. One witness recorded video of the swerving school bus and showed it to the trooper, who then checked Mayberry for impairment.
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After finding no signs of impairment, Mayberry told the trooper she was tired, according to the Highway Patrol.
“One witness was able to get some video of the school bus driving left of center and just some very unsafe, very unsafe traffic violations,” Trooper Anthony Mclain said.
Mayberry was removed from the bus, which was carrying 24 students to three different high schools, and the school district sent another driver to finish the route.
“So, I determined that the best-case scenario for her and for the safety of the children, ultimately, and the public on the road was to go ahead and take her off the bus,” Mclain said.
The students were supposed to be dropped off at three early college schools, including one on the campus of Mitchell Community College off Highway 115.
Mayberry has been a school bus driver in North Carolina for more than 30 years, the past three for Iredell-Statesville Schools.
She has been suspended with pay pending an investigation.
“I think that if she was tired, she should have called at least, so she wouldn't endanger the children's safety,” resident Jessica Tatum said.
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